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Here’s more kindling to keep the Wayne Gretzky-to-Toronto rumours smoking.

TSN’s Darren Dreger reported Wednesday that new Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment CEO Tim Leiweke has chatted with Gretzky about an executive post as the hierarchy continues revamping in the Rogers-Bell merger era. Those discussions did not lead to anything specific, but the report added there is the possibility of Gretzky having a role down the road.

Leiweke, former chairman of sports and entertainment for the Anschutz Entertainment Group (owner of the Los Angeles Kings), already tried convincing Phil Jackson to join the Toronto Raptors’ masthead. Leiweke was not in place in January of this year when a prominent Toronto radio talk show host brought up Gretzky as a possible replacement for Brian Burke as Leafs president, right after Burke was turfed.

Gretzky had to quell those rumours himself, but did say the Kings had talked to him about a job. Leiweke was still with L.A. at that time.

LEAFS PREP FOR FRIDAY

The Maple Leafs went into Wednesday night trying to figure out what Friday morning is going to look like.

Toronto and 29 other clubs were granted permission to start talking to potential free agents, but there were still some compliance buyouts to be settled around the league and free agency decisions elsewhere that could change the marketplace when official UFA shopping starts Friday.

With the Leafs keeping an eye on their own cap space and eyeing trades to further reduce the payroll, general manager Dave Nonis and his staff have a phone in one hand and a calculator in the other. Names such as forwards Stephen Weiss and David Clarkson are being considered, but Nonis did scoop centre David Bolland in a draft day trade in case prices get too crazy, too quickly on Friday.

Weiss, it turns out, is a nephew of new farm team coach Steve Spott, but that’s unlikely to make the difference in his signing - unless Weiss wants to give the Leafs a hometown discount. The Leafs have made two good depth moves with Bolland and new goalie Jonathan Bernier, but the next move will be tricky.

A SWISS NOT TO MISS

The Leafs’ North American scouts could be able to keep closer tabs on fifth-round selection Fabrice Herzog, after the Quebec Remparts selected the aggressive Swiss forward in the Canadian Hockey League import draft on Wednesday.

There’s already a Leafs connection to Herzog, who was coached in Zug by former Leafs player and AHL St. John’s headmaster Doug Shedden. The Leafs had two picks from the emerging QMJHL on Sunday, first-rounder Frederik Gauthier (Rimouski) and goalie Antoine Bibeau (PEI Rocket).

SPARKS FLY ON TWITTER

Marlies goaltender Garret Sparks took to Twitter to defend Mike Komisarek, whose compliance buyout on Tuesday generated plenty of shots at the blueliner’s ability and the Leafs paying him $22.5 million US in the first place. Tuesday’s move took care of the last of his $4.5-million cap hit after Komisarek ended the year on the farm, at his own request to help rejuvenate his career.

“Maybe he wasn’t paid $4 million to be a Marlie,” Sparks tweeted, “but you will realize the value of his stay when the (defence) prospects find their way to the big club. Any fan praising Komisarek’s buyout doesn’t understand the incredibly positive impact he had on the (Marlies) this season.”

SNOW TIRES REQUIRED

In answering questions from curious fans on the Leafs web site, Bernier was asked if he had any extravagances.

“I like watches and I’m a car guy,” Bernier said. “I drive an Audi R8. It was great in L.A. but now in Toronto ... I don’t know how it would do in the snow.”

LOOSE LEAFS

While the Leafs now know there won’t be any major scheduling changes with Phoenix staying put, the full regular-season slate is not expected to be available until around July 17 ... Don Meehan, agent for UFA winger Clarke MacArthur, said there is little progress with his possible return to the Leafs. ... When that happens, coach Randy Carlyle will be looking forward to finding out when he’ll face the Edmonton Oilers and ex-Marlies coach Dallas Eakins, who sent him so many NHL-ready players last year. “It’s great for Dallas, an opportunity to run an NHL bench and I’m sure he’ll have some butterflies (playing the Leafs),” Carlyle said. “It will be ‘good luck’ to him (that night), but we’re not here to give points away.” ... Toronto players earned a bit of support for the NHL all-star team. Phil Kessel, who was tied for seventh in NHL scoring with 52 points, ended up fourth at right wing behind Alexander Ovechkin, Martin St. Louis and Patrick Kane. He was named on two first-place ballots, though the majority were third-place nods. James Reimer ranked seventh in goalies with two second-place and three third-place votes. Dion Phaneuf was 14th among defencemen based on second and third-place votes and Cody Franson had a single third-place vote.